Dress
Pattern:Victoria Lousie Mercers, Robe a' la Francaise
(see my review on The Great Pattern Review)
Fabric:
Underskirt: Floral pattern beading (factory-beaded) lavendar matte satin; bottom ruffle of hand gathered lengths of robe fabric, thin silver trim overlay
Robe: Heavy, deep plum matte satin; trim of hand rouched organza with thin silver trim overlay; sleeves gathered satin and lace, thin silver trim overlay
Stomacher: Details of hand rouched organza ribbon, thin silver trim overlay; constructed of plum satin, buchram and steel boning; attached by hidden hooks and eyes along two sides
Corset
Pattern: Custom pattern generated from instructions on The Elizabethan Costume Page (a 16th century pattern, but generates the correct silhouette for this era and dress, so I used it)
Fabric: Pink, floral brocade inside and out, "Ridgelene" plastic boning, silver hammered grommets, beige ribbon lacing. No busk.
Pocket Hoops/Paniers
Pattern: Custom paniers pattern from La Couturiere Parisienne. This style was also known as "considerations" or "jansenistes".
Fabric: Leftover medium weight; royal blue cotton from the mock-up I made of the dress. Steel hoop boning. Boning channels of 3/4"; scrap floral pattern ribbon. Ribbon tie. (I lost my paniers in a cab on Halloween 2000. *weep* Lucky they're easy to make!)
Jacket
Pattern: McCall's ??? (a colonial pattern, but essentially the correct cut for the look we wanted)
Fabric: Dark purple upholstry velvet (heavy!), lined in black satin. Trim of silver lace and thin silver braid trim, stamped silver metal buttons.
Waistcoat
Pattern: Simplicity 8808, lengthened for proper style.
Fabric: Metalic platinum specialty print fabric. Lined in black satin, plain black buttons.
Shirt (my mother made this for us to save me time)
Pattern: Simplicity 8615, no frill along front, added lace to cuffs, pearlized shell-look buttons. Tied loose length of lace like a cravat, secured with a pearlesque/rhinestone earring.
An 18th Century Masqued Millenial Ball at the Hotel Vancouver in Vancouver, BC, Canada. To read the story about our experience, visit my husband's site here.
How long it took:
Began research in October.
Completed corset in two nights, near beginning of November.
Received pattern first week of November, and completed mock-up by second week.
Completed pocket hoops in one night, mid-November.
Completed dress and jacket around the same time--just after Christmas, a few days prior to the event.
This all would have taken a lot longer without my Mother's help, and the help of my "little sister" Andrea, who sat and helped do all the rouching until it was finished. My Mother did most of the hand-sewing for me while I was at work, so I could come over after work and do the major construction and design elements.